Dynamo advance to Eastern Semis after win over Impact

Updated 11:02 pm, Thursday, October 31, 2013

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia joins his teammates congratulate forward Will Bruin after his second goal of the match, in the 72nd minute, against the Montreal Impact on Thursday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. Bruin also scored in the ninth minute as the team advanced in the playoffs. Garcia added a goal in the 27th minute.

Houston Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia joins his teammates congratulate forward Will Bruin after his second goal of the match, in the 72nd minute, against the Montreal Impact on Thursday night at BBVA Compass

Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia beats Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins to score on a penalty kick during the first half.

Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia beats Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins to score on a penalty kick during the first half.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis (11) celebrates with Boniek Garcia (27) after Garcia scored on a penalty kick during the first half.

Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis (11) celebrates with Boniek Garcia (27) after Garcia scored on a penalty kick during the first half.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Dynamo advance to Eastern Semis after win over Impact

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Corey Ashe wore the scratches he received from the Montreal Impact as though they were badges Thursday night. One scrape was on his neck, another on his face and yet another was on his ear after the MLS Cup's Eastern Conference knockout round.

As Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear had predicted a day earlier in a pregame video session, the Impact clawed at Ashe and his teammates, kicked them from behind while they were down and tried in vain to knock them off their game.

The Dynamo, as has become their tradition at playoff time, refused to lose focus from the task at hand. Will Bruin scored a pair of goals and Boniek Garcia added another to rout the Impact 3-0 and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Red Bulls.

The stadium was more than half empty, but the stunningly small crowd of 10,476 was rewarded with an impressive display by the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions.

The Dynamo will now open the Eastern Conference semifinals at home Sunday afternoon in the first leg of the home-and-way set that will be decided by an aggregate score.

"I want to give praise to the people who showed up tonight to watch this game," Kinnear said. "I'm sure there'll be 20,000 more that said they were here along the way. I want to thank the fans who showed up - fantastic support for the group.

"And now the road just gets a little bit tougher with the game against New York on Sunday, so we're looking forward to that."

Thursday's match was vintage Dynamo playoff soccer, showcasing the grit that has defined the two-time MLS Cup champions and four-time finalists. The small crowd, however, makes it clear that Houston still has a long way to go as a soccer town.

The empty seats gave soccer critics in town more ammunition, but the Dynamo performance was a great example of the best of MLS.

"I think the fans who showed up tonight (gave) phenomenal support," Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall said. "I think they made the right choice because I think it was a pretty good game. There were a lot of fans that had a good time.

"Looking back, I bet there's going to be a whole lot more fans that wish they had gone to this game. Hopefully they make the correct decision this weekend."

The Dynamo spanked their despised rivals all over the pitch before ultimately keeping their cool when the Impact attempted to spark a brawl.

The Dynamo didn't waste much time taking control against a team that had outscored them 7-1 in the regular season. Ricardo Clark received the ball just outside the 18-yard box, took one hard touch inside and then sent the ball back with his heel. Bruin took another touch and then curled a shot into the right corner of the net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.

Garcia manufactured the next goal. He stole the ball on the left wing from defender Hassoun Camara. He then exploded toward the 18-yard box, where he was hip checked by Hernan Bernardello for a penalty call. Four days after he converted a penalty into the right corner of the net, Garcia slotted the ball into the left corner to give the Dynamo a 2-0 lead in the 27th minute.

The Impact threatened to cut the lead in half in the 42nd minute, but Hall exploded off his line to deny Marco Di Vaio from close range. Hall made another impressive save in the 61st minute when he dove to his right to parry Di Vaio's menacing, long-range rocket.

Bruin made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute when he beat Matteo Ferrari to the ball on the left wing. He then dribbled past a defender and then goalkeeper Troy Perkins before ripping his shot into the right corner.

Already down a man, the Impact lost their cool in the 89th minute when Andres Romero kicked a fallen Kofi Sarkodie.

"There's really no place in soccer for what the player did to Kofi," Kinnear said.

In the ensuing melee, Di Vaio scratched and slapped Ashe. Romero and Di Vaio were given red cards and sent off for their actions.

"Obviously I didn't like it, and the majority of the guys didn't like it," Ashe said. "When our player's on the ground and somebody's going to kick at him, that's disrespectful. We're a family and we're going to stick up for each other. Everyone knows I'm the feisty one on the team. I'm the pit bull. I find the way to get in everything. I like to protect my players."